Type composing and casting machine



June 20, `1939. B. s. FIN

TYPE coMPosING AND CASTING MACHINE s sheets-sheet@ Filed Oct. 22, 1938 Suvenor ich@ 6p? d.' a @Quim Gnomeg June 20,1939. B s HNE f 2,163,390

TYPE COMPOSING AND CPSTING MACHINE Filed oct. 22, 195e 3 sheets-sheet 2 Snventor 3yr? Uff-orizz @991K *11,53 o @MCH Z K attorney `lune 20, 1939. Y B. s, F|NE 2,163,390

TYPE coMPosrNG AND CASTING MACHINE Filed 001'.. 22, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Snnentor n um ,(QW QW @n.D'MaRM v attorney lis Patented June Z0, 1939 PATENT OFFICE TYPE- COMPOSING AND CASTING MACHINE Application October 22, 1938, Serial No. 236,403

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a type composing and casting machine, and more particularly to safety control mechanism which prevents improper operation of such a machine under certain circumstances.

Type composing, setting and casting machines of the type sold under the trade-marks Linotype and Intertype, comprise mechanism for successively assembling matrices and tapered spacers or space bands on an assembling elevator to form a line of approximate required length and then transferring the assembled matrices by means of elevator and delivery mechanism to a position where the spacers are moved to justify the lineto full length, and molten type metal is cast into the characters thereon to form a slug or line of type. Such a machine may be operated both manually and automatically by a standard keyboard controlled by a pattern or record tape which is fed through a record reader mechanism, known under the trade-mark Teletypesetter, which Vis arranged and connected to cause the selection of requiredmatrices in accordance with the record.

Machines of this general type4 are complicated in structure and delicate in their operation,. and improper operation sometimes occurs either automatically or through human error, such as improper manipulation of the keyboard or a mistake in the tape record. If such error results in a line of matrices not being full enough for the spacer blanks to justify the line to full width, then molten type metal may escape from the machine during the casting step and perhaps seriously injure the operator and damage the matrices. Likewise, if the last matrix of. the line is not positioned properly on the assembling elevator, then it may fall out and leave the line unfilled or it may jam the operating mechanism when the elevator tries to go-up and so cause trouble and a considerable `amount of time loss. Safety devices have been provided to overcome a part of the diculties that may be met, as shown in the patents to Walden No. 2,006,848 and Goetz et al. No. 2,006,860 of July 2, ,1935. Applicants invention relates to machines of the type set forth in said patents and provides further safety mechanisms in addition to those therein disclosed.

One object of this invention is, therefore, to improve an integral line type casting machine of the class described, by providing safety mechanism so constructed and arranged as to prevent full movement of the elevator and subsequent casting of the type, if for any reason the line of matrices is too short or loose for justifying in `the casting mechanism, and which causes the composing-mechanism to stop and remain inoperative until the error has been corrected by an attendant and a releasable power connection has been're-set manually for further operation of the machine.

A fur-ther object is to provide a type casting machine of the class described with a device which will automatically place the last matrix in proper position and permit the elevator to operate and move the assembled matrices to a type casting position, if the line is adequately full.

A still further object is to provide a fully automatic type composing and casting machine with control mechanism which insures that the line of matrices is adequately full before the elevator starts on its upward movementl and that the last matrix is properly positioned before the elevator mechanism can transfer the assembled matrices to the delivery slide trackway for the casting step, and which cooperates with other safety mechanism to insure that the machine stops and prevents accidents due to improper assembling of the matrices. Further objects will be apparent in the following disclosure.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of this invention satisfying all of the above objects, and in which like reference numerals indicate like parts:

Fig. l is a fragmentary front elevation of an automatic type setting machine of the class illustrated in said prior patents;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective View of the elevator operating mechanism looking in the .direction of the arrow 3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the elevator control handle in a normal operating position;

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the parts in an abnormal position which prevents further operation of the elevator;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentaryplan View of the elevator and matrix feeding mechanism, looking in the direction of the arrow 6 in Fig. 1;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary elevation, partlyin section, taken on the line 11 of Fig. 6, which shows the matrix assembling members; and

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing how the last matrix is positively forced into position.

This invention applies particularly to a power yoperated integral line type casting machine as shown in said patents, whichcomprises a keyboard operated either manually or automatically for successively releasing matrices from a supply magazine at the top of the machine. These matrices fall onto a traveling belt and are assembled with spacers on the spaced bars of an assembling elevator, after which the elevator delivers the accumulated line of matrices to a delivery slide trackway and further mechanism arranged for casting the molten type metal into the characters thereon, and finally the matrices and spacers are sorted and selectively returnedto their magazines for re-use in the machine. This selection and assembling of the matrices may be caused by automatic operation of the keyboard mechanism controlled by a pattern, such as a perforated tape record. In accordance with the disclosure in said prior patents, the record tape determines the automatic operation of the machine whereby the premade record governs the selection of the matrices and causes the elevator to be operated, as predetermined by the operator who punched the tape. When the perforations on the tape call for lifting the elevator, a clutch controlled cam rotates the elevator operating shaft; but if the elevator cannot move, for any reason, a releasable connection between the cam and shaft, which comprises a manually operable handle, breaks apart and prevents further movement of the record tape until the defect has been corrected by an attendant.

One aspect of my invention involves providing such a machine with mechanism which locks the elevator against movement until the correct nu1n ber of matrices has been assembled thereon. This lock is preferably released by movement of the slide bar to a position Which insures that the line of matrices is adequately full. Then if, and when, the releasable connection is made between the cam and elevator shaft, the elevator will operate to transfer the matrices to mechanism arranged for casting the line of type. A second feature involves a pusher operated automatically, and preferably in timed relation with the elevator movement, which insures that the last matrix in the line is pushed into place and locked in position before the assembled matrices are delivered for the casting step. This is preferably accomplished by a spring pressed pusher which is normally held inoperative by the elevator and released for operation when the elevator starts upwards.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, I have shown these protective mechanisms in association with a device of the type set forth in said patents, and to which reference is to be had for further description of the machine. The machine comprises a slide Il] and an elevator II having two spaced bottom rails to which matrices I2 are delivered by means of a belt I3. The matrices slide from the belt down a slide block I4 between side plates I5 and are delivered in a substantially vertical position onto the top of the elevator rails. The slide bar I 6 is movably mounted on the roller I6 and a slide bracket I8, and it carries at its left hand end a vertically projecting offset finger 20 located between the elevator rails. The first matrix is assembled against this finger, and as succeeding matrices are put into place, the slide bar is automatically moved towards the left. A positively rotated star wheel 22, which rotates counterclockwise, serves to thrust the matrices successively into position on the elevator rails.

The matrices are assembled between two spaced side rails 24 (Fig. 6) and form the top portion of the elevator; and they are carried on a frame 26 supported for vertical sliding movement, as is well understood. The elevator is moved vertically at stated intervals by means of a positively rotated shaft 28 which connects through a rock arm 29 thereon with a link 36 pivotally attached to the bottom of the elevator. This elevator moves vertically when the line of matrices and spacer blocks 32 supplied from another source, have been assembled in position to make an adequately full line. Thereafter, the assembled matrices are transferred by the elevator to a delivery slide trackway (not shown) and delivered to the casting mechanism for making the integral type bar.

The slide bar I0 is moved to the left under the propelling effort of the star wheel 22 against the pull of a coiled spring 35 (Fig. l) connected to the bar by a tape 36. The bar is prevented from returning towards the right by a brake mechanism comprising a swinging arm 37 having two spaced brake blocks 38 engaging the top and bottom of the slide bar Ill. The frictional grip of the brake blocks prevents the slide bar from moving to the right further than permitted by a set screw 49 in a bell crank lever 42 pivoted at 43 and having a weighted arm 44. A spring 45 tends to hold the brake arm 31 towards the right against the force of the weighted arm 44. An adjustable sliding dog 48 is suitably mounted on the slide bar and secured in an adjusted position by a set screw 49, and its movement towards the left is limited by the stop 5I. A hand release lever 52 pivoted on the stud 53 serves to release the brake and allow return movement of the slide bar after the elevator has removed the matrices therefrom. The top of the elevator is also arranged to strike one end of lever 54 pivoted at 55, and the right hand end of this lever pushes the brake release lever when the elevator goes up and thus sets the slide Ill for a further loading operation.

The elevator mechanism may be operated by hand or by power. An' automatic device controlled by a perforated record tape or pattern may be of the well known type sold under the trade-mark Teletypesetter, and reference may be had to said patents for a description of the parts pertinent to the present invention. As Shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, such a construction comprises a manually operable handle 56 connected to actuate the elevator rock shaft 28. The power driving mechanism comprises a driven gear wheel 58 adapted to be connected through a slidable clutch member 59 with a shaft 68 which carries thereon an elevator cam 62 arranged to strike a roller 63 on the right hand end of an arm 64 freely pivotally mounted on the shaft 28. The left hand end of the swinging arm 64 is shaped as a cam 65 having its lower portion of shorter radius than the upper part relative to the pivot of the arm 64, and this cam is engaged by a plunger 66 slidably mounted in the handle 56 and held against the cam by a compressed spring 61. The frictional pressure of this plunger tends to hold the freely swinging lever 64 in a certain forced relationship relative to the handle 56, so that when the elevator cam 62 is revolved to lift the right hand end of the lever 64, the handle 56 will normally go down and the shaft 28 will be turned counterclockwise and thus operate the elevator through the arm 29 and link 38 as described.

Also, freely mounted on the same shaft 28 is a further swinging arm or lever IU which has a finger 'II at its outer end arranged to control recordtape and associated parts.

arca-39o the rotation ofthe recrd; reading-Shanna- This 12L operates the mechanism which moves the This tape carriescertain perforations which operate the mechanism of the prior patentsl and serve toconnect the clutch 'and causerotationl of the elevator cam'62 and elevationof the shaft 50.

The clutch M"L is slidably operated byv mechanism comprising a link 'lconnected to the lower end '18' of a bell crankv pivoted on a rockshaft 19 Yand which has an upstanding arm 230 adapted to serve as a `clutch throw out member. This arm 80 has a hole therein with arcanil surface the elevator operates, the endof the latchV 84 lies in back` of the Ytop ofthe clutch throw out arm Y 80 and thus holds the lug-82` in the opening of the throw out arm 80 against the pressure of spring 8s and keeps the clutch disconnected. The spring 8B normally holds the clutch connected, so thaty the recordy reading shaft .rotates continuously during the period of loading the matrices onto the slide bar.

The rocking arm'84, which is pivotally mounted on the stud B5, nasaV depending arm 00 located beneath and in the path of movement of the end H of the rock arm 10, so that when thev elevator is started in-its movement bythe elevator cam 02,the arm 90lifts and allows the springi to pull the latch into position behind the clutch throw out member 00. Then, when the clutch operating lug 8?. comes around in its next revolution, it slips into the cam opening in thel arm S0 and thus disconnects the clutch and stops the record reading shaft and holds the tape stationary during the periodv that the elevator is going up and until the mechanism has been re-set for assembling another set of matrices. VThe arm 10 carries a set screw 05 therein which engages the top surface of the rock arm Meo that it normally travels therewith. At the other end-of the arm 'l0 are one or more openings or recesses SliV (Fig. so located as to engage a spring pressed plunger S5A (Fig. 3) mounted in the handle 55. A further opening .lll-is so located in the rock arm as to engage this plunger when the parts areV in the. disconnected positions of Fig. 5.

This handle mechanism is so constructed, as explained in the prior patents, that when the elevator is incapable of moving. vertically, althoughv the tape has attempted to operate it through the elevator cam, the shaft will remain stationary and the cam will thrust the arms Ell-and l'iJ into the positions shown in Fig. 5; as permitted by the plunger 66. andthe spring pressed plunger 95. Hence, the elevator cam may Operate without breaking any of the mechanism and the machine will thereafter come to stop until the obstruction has been removed. This is brought about by the fact that the end of the rocking lever 'l0 remains up in the air and permits the latch 84 to be drawn down into a locking position, so that the clutch 14 is disconnected and thus stops the tape and all other mechanism associated therewith.

The elevator cam isadapted to-be revolved just once and then held stationary until a newV line of matrices has been* assembled. That is, the sliding clutch member 59 is held normally out of connection with the driving gear 58 because the clutch operating arm |00, similar toy the arm 80'above described, is'held in engagement with a cam lug, similar to lug 82, which rests within an opening |02 in the arm |00. This arm |00 is pivotally mounted on a rock shaft |04- and may be adjusted in position between the U-sliaped arms |05 to which is attached a spring ist tending to swing the clutch operating arm |00 towards the left and permit the clutch to be connected by the spring |00. A latch ||0, similarto latch 80, and pivotally mounted on the rock shaft I||, normallyliesin back of the swinging arm |00 and holds the clutch parts disconnected.

After assembly of the line ofA matrices, which term is herein used to apply also to the spacers 32, mechanism described in the prior patents serves to rock that latch ||0'0ut of engagement with'the operating member |00 and permit the clutchto be thrown. This mechanism comprises an arm lli-having a cam |51thereon adapted to engage the lower end of the rocking arm I|0 and thus lift it out of its locking engagement. The position or" the cam H5 on the arm ||4 is controlled by an arm H6 which is controlled-by the delivery Vslide arm, so that the elevator mechanism cannot be actuated unless the delivery slide arm has returned-to a-proper position indicating that the elevator i's free to receive-a new line of matrices. Theother end of link Mis connected to a latchKA bar ||8 adapted to betmoved towardsthe `right untilit is in position to butt against the right hand end of 'a lug |2| on the rocking latch |22, which tends to be lifted by a spring |23. When this latch |22. is inthat position, the arm ||8is so located that. the cam H5` holds the latch ||0out of engagement with the clutch controlled arm |00 and permits the clutch to be connected by spring |08 and to revolve the elevator operating shaft 60-and cam 624 and thus move the elevator. As this takes place, a cam |30 on the elevator shaft r50 rtravels around and strikesthe upper-endof the latch |22 Sand thrusts it down and so releases the lug |20 `on the latch H8,- and-other mechanism serves to draw` thatV latch andthe. canrl l5 back andallow the latch ||0ito fall down in a locking position. When the cam |32 on the Shaft 60.has revolvedto a position Where itengagesfa. roller |34* on the rocking member'|05;which carries-the arm |00, it thrusts latch lllll'forwardintothe. pathof the lug on the clutch andthus serves to disconnect the clutch and stop the operationof the elevator.

The primary purpose of my invention is `to provideA safety mechanism, which insures that the last matrix is assembled in the line onithe elevator, and which also serves to hold the elevator locked until the right number of i matrices and spacers have been put into position for justifying prior to the-casting step, so that even if the tape attempts to startV movement ofthe elevator, this willresult merelyinthe breaking of the releasable connection in the power. mechanism, and stopping-the tapeand associated parts, and so Vpreventing further vmovement of the elevator shaft until the releasable. power connection hasfbeen're-set manually. As; showninlFigs; l and 6, the elevator: rails` Zd'nhave verticalguide plates- |40 which engage the sides i of thematrices.- These plates Mit4 terminatedniswlnging plates |42 pivotally ,mounted at |43 thereon, and the ends of these swinging plates |42 have inwardly projectinglugs |43 which serves as latches to engage the side faces of the matrices and prevent them from falling back out of the assembled line. Flat springs |41 serve to keep the swinging plates |42 in a closed position. If, however, the last matrix, as may be the case, is not thrust past these locking lugs |48 and remains in the position shown in Fig. '7, then when'the elevator goes up, that last matrix may fall laterally and perhaps jam the mechanism and stop the elevator, thus causing loss of time and possible damage to the matrix. Or, this matrix may fall clear and permit the elevator to travel upward with an incomplete line and thus cause the casting of a line with an error. Or if the missing matrix has made the line too loose, the line may not cast at` all, thus causing several words to be left out of the matter to be printed. Or, if a line that is not adequately full should be cast, then molten metal would squirt between the matrices and spacers and cause possible damage to both, and a considerable amount of time will definitely be lost in getting the matrices out of the machine and cleaning them up for further use. I have provided a lock which keeps the elevator from starting up if the line of inatrices and spacers is not adequately full.

The safety device which prevents upward movement of the elevator is shown particularly in Fig. l. As there illustrated, a bar |56 suspended on a link |52 from the stud 53 has an upstanding member |54 adjustably secured thereon as by a set screw |55 slidably adjustable in an elongated slot |56 in the bar. The top of the member |54 lies in the path of the movable dog 48 on the sliderails l0. The other end of the bar |58 is pivotally connected to a rocking lever |60 pivoted at |6| on the framework of the machine. The lower end of this lever` has a projection |62 which engages and lies in the path of movement of a shelf |64 on the elevator 26. A spring |65 tends to hold the parts in that locking position.

, Any tendency for the elevator to move upwardly is, therefore, taken as a direct thrust on the pin |6| and the elevator cannot move until the dog 48 has thrust the member |54 towards the left to a sufficient extent to unlock the end |62 from contact with the elevator. The dog and the arm |54 are, of course, properly adjusted so that this unlocking action will not take place until the last matrix required has been fed to the slide bar.

Assuming that the lastv matrix has fallen back into the position shown in Fig. '7 and that the star wheel is unable to thrust it past the locking lugs |48, I provide mechanism operated in timed relationship with movement of the elevator which will thrust that last matrix into position as it travels upwardly. In the preferred construction, this comprises an arm |18 pivoted on a stud |12 on a frame of the machine (Figs. '1 and 8) and the upper end |14 of the arm |10 is so shaped and arranged that it will pass over the star wheel and strike the last matrix l2 as it is being moved upwards by the elevator and so thrust it past the locking lug |48 and into proper assembled position. A spring |16 serves to move the lever arm |10 forward when permitted by movement of the elevator. That is, a projecting flange or the bottom |18 of the elevator engages an adjustable set screw |80 in the end of a lever |82 pivoted at |84 on the frame of the machine, and the right hand end |86 of this lever is adaptedto engage the. lower end |88 of the lever-|10.

This arrangement is such that when the elevator is in its lowermost'position, while the matrices are being assembled, the end |86 of the lever |82 serves as a lock to prevent the spring |86from thrusting the pusher |14 into the line of assembly of the matrices. This pusher |14 is normally beneath the block I4 and out of the path of the assembling matrices. But as soon as the elevator starts on its upward path, the strong spring |16 immediately thrusts the pusher forward and makes sure that the last matrix is properly positioned. The pusher passes through a slot in the block |4 and so strikes the matrix substantially in its central vertical line. The length of the projecting end |14 of the arm and the strength of the spring |16 are such that the last matrix must go into position on the assembling elevator as soon as the arm is freed for move` ment; and this operation takes place automatically and does not require action on the part of the machine operator.

The operation of the mechanism has been set forth above. In normal usage of the machine as operated by the tape control mechanism, the characters on the tape cause the proper matrices and spacers to fall and be assembled on the slide bar, and as soon as the line has been filled, the latch is moved by the cam ||5 to release the clutch lock and cause the elevator shaft 60 to make a single complete revolution and cause the cam 62 to turn the shaft 28 and move the elevator upwards. This elevator cannot move, however, until the slide bar l0 has been forced towards the left far enough to unlock the latch |62; and if the tape causes the elevator cam 62 to operate, it will merely cause a yielding of the releasable connection in the handle locking mechanism, so that the shaft 28 will not have to turn. This thrusts the handle mechanism into the position of Fig. and the tape and associated mechanism cannot operate again until the released connection in the handle has been manually re-set to its operative position. This is accomplished by the operator grasping the left hand end of lever (Fig. 5) and lifting it relative to the handle 56as permitted by the spring pressed plunger 95 and which holds the parts in their new positions during normal operation of the machine. The elevator remains locked in position until the right number of matrices and spacers have been put into place. Hence, any error in the fullness of the line made by an operator of the tape perforating machine cannot serve to cause trouble in the type composing and casting machine.' Also, this mechanism insures that the last matrix will be thrust into position as the elevator goes up so that the type casting operation will be performed properly, provided the line is adequately full.

It will be appreciated that many modifications may be made in these safety mechanisms and that they may be applied to various types of machines other than those set forth in the prior patents above referred to, and that the drawings and description are to be considered in an illustrative and not in any limiting sense except as required by the scope of the copending claims.

I claim:

l. A type composing and casting machine comprising mechanism for selectively assembling matrices in a line, an elevator for receiving the assembled matrices which has spring pressed locking lugs for holding the last assembled matrix in position, mechanism for moving the elevator, and means operated in timed relationship with the elevator movement which pushes the last matrix into position behind said locking lugs.

2. A type composing and casting machine comprising a slide bar and an elevator, means for selectively assembling matrices thereon, a spring actuated pusher arranged to engage the last matrix and push it into position, and a locking device preventing movement of the pusher which is released by movement of the elevator, whereby the pusher operates as the elevator rises.

3. A type composing and casting machine comprising mechanism for selectively assembling matrices on a slide bar, elevator mechanism for removing the assembled matrices as a unit from the slide bar, means preventing movement of the elevator until a predetermined number oi matrices have been assembled in position and means operated in timed relationship with the elevator movement which insures that the last matrix is properly positioned when removed by the elevator.

4. A type composing and casting machine comprising a slide bar, mechanism for selectively assembling matrices on and moving the slide bar, elevator mechanism including spaced rails for removing the matrices from said bar, automatically actuated power mechanism for moving the elevator, means for pushing the last matrix into position on the elevator, a locking device normally preventing movement of the elevator, means for releasing said locking device which is actuated by movement of the slide bar to a predetermined position, and power driving mechanism including a releasable connection for actuating the elevato-r normally which causes said connection to be broken if the elevator is held by the 100k.

5. A type composing and casting machine comprising mechanism including a slide bar for selectively assembling matrices thereon, means for pushing the matrices onto the slide bar and moving the latter therewith, an elevator having spaced rails and end locking lugs for receiving the assembled matrices and removing them from the slide bar, a locking device for preventing movement of the elevator, means for releasing the locking device when the slide bar has been moved to a predetermined position, and means rendered operative by movement of the elevator for pushing the last matrix into position on the elevator rails as the elevator rises.

6. A type composing and casting machine comprising an elevator and a slide bar, means including a record tape for automatically and selectively assembling matrices on the elevator and slide bar, said elevator having spaced rails and means thereon for holding the assembled matrices and removing them from the slide bar, power mechanism including a releasable connection for actuating the elevator in accordance with the record on the tape, a locking device preventing movement of the elevator irrespective of the tape record, means for releasing the elevator lock when the matrices have been assembled on the bar to form a predetermined length of line, and means independent of the assembling mechanism for forcing the last matrix into position on the elevator.

7. A type casting machine comprising a slide bar, mechanism for selectively assembling matrices thereon, an elevator for removing the matrices from the slide bar, power mechanism including a releasable connection for operating the elevator, a lock for preventing movement of the elevator irrespective of 'the action of the power mechanism, means for releasing the lock when the matrices have been assembled in a predetermined length of line, and means rendered operative by movement of the elevator for forcing the last matrix into position thereon.

8. A type composing and casting machine comprising automatically operated power mechanism controlled by a record tape for selectively assembling matrices in a line, an elevator for removing the assembled matrices, a releasable lock for preventing movement of the elevator, means for releasing the lock when sucient matrices have been assembled to make a full line, and power mechanism, including a releasable connection, for operating the elevator automatically as required by the premadetape record, which causes the type assembling and elevator operating mechanisms to stop when the power mechanism attempts to move the elevator while held by the lock.

9. A type composing and casting machine comprising power mechanism controlled by a record tape for selectively assembling matrices on an elevator and slide bar, automatically actuated means controlled by said tape for moving the elevator in accordance with the tape record, a releasable locking device, which prevents movement of the elevator, means including an adjustable dog on the slide bar which releases the locking device when sufficient matrices have been assembled to form a full line of predetermined but variable length, means including a releasable connection associated with the power mechanism which permits the elevator mechanism to be operated normally as required by the record but causes said releasable connection to stop the associated type assembling and elevator operating mechanisms when the elevator movement is prevented by the locking device and means whereby the releasable connection may be re-set for further operation of the machine.

10. A type composing and casting machine comprising a slide bar, mechanism for selectively assembling matrices on the bar, an elevator having spaced rails and means for holding the assembled matrices thereon, mechanism for moving the elevator, means for serially pushing the matrices onto said rails and mechanismoperated in timed relationship with the elevator movement which pushes the last matrix into position on the rails,

BYRD S. FINE. 

